Carol was born December 13, 1936 and went home to be with our Lord on June 12, 2017. Carol was born in Chicago, Illinois to parents James and Hester (Strickland) Finnegan. Carol was the sixth of eight children in the Finnegan clan. She was raised in Chicago and graduated from Austin High School with the class of 1956. In 1960, she married Ernest Karcher. They lived in Beloit and then Delavan, Wisconsin raising their five children: John, Julie, Jean, Jeff, and Jason. Carol worked at Lakeland Hospital and Lakeland Nursing Home in Elkhorn as housekeeping supervisor until her retirement in 1997. Although Carol and Ernie divorced, she never gave up on love and was able to find it again with William 'Bill' Zabel. They were married in 1995 and resided in Delavan and then Surprise, Arizona until Bill's passing in 1998. Carol moved back to the Midwest and lived between Wisconsin and Iowa, always wanting to be close to one of her kids. Carol enjoyed family time and adored her grandchildren, one of her greatest blessings. She then added to her counted blessings, her great-grandchildren. She would drop anything, anytime, for any one of us in need.

Those left to treasure her love and her life here on earth are her sister, Lois Kahn, Chicago, Illinois, and as she called us-her FiveJs: John and his wife Karyn Karcher of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Julie and her husband Steve Anhorn of Osage, Iowa, Jean and her husband Richard Jedlicka of Appleton, Wisconsin, Jeff and his wife Laura Karcher of Madison, Wisconsin and Jason Karcher of Madison, Wisconsin. She also leaves great love and memories with her grandchildren: Jennifer Karcher and Ethan Karcher of Breckenridge, Colorado; Paul Hanna of Osage, Iowa, and Margo Young, with husband Philip and son Finnegan Michael also of Osage; Jeremy Jedlicka, with wife Valerie and their children Summer, Elias Jaymes and Shiloh Ann of Brandon, Iowa, Lisa Frahm, with husband Corey and son Edwin Corey of Black Creek, Wisconsin and Emma King, with husband Patrick and children Lynzi Jean, Colton Edward and Claire Maxine of Kimberly, Wisconsin; Ana Karcher and Rachel Karcher of Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Kacy Jo Karcher of DeForest, Wisconsin. Two dear sisters-in-law: Marge Finnegan of Chicago, Illinois and Angie Finnegan of Round Lake Beach, Illinois. She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews, all so dear to her heart.

Carol was predeceased by her parents, James and Hester Finnegan; her husband, Bill Zabel; and siblings: Hester, James, John ‘Jackie’, Patricia, Thomas and Robert Finnegan.

A celebration of our dear mother's life will be held on Monday, July 17, 2017 at The Inspiration Center, N2270 WI Highway 67, Walworth, Wisconsin. Family will greet at 10:00am with the Celebration of Life beginning at 11:00am. Monroe Funeral Home, Delavan, is handling the arrangements.

Carol’s family wishes to extend the warmest thank you to the staff at Matthew’s House of Neenah and especially to ‘her Melisa’, who always went above and beyond and loved our mom as her own. The loving care and friendship she received brought sunshine to our mother every single day. Our thanks are extended to Heartland Hospice of Green Bay for their wonderful care and the unending support they gave our mother and extended to all of us. Together you all made our mom’s last days beautiful and peaceful.

Memorials may be sent to the family and will be directed to assist with Alzheimer’s research and care.